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(NoMode.)

A'. s. MINES.

MAIL BAG.

No. 323,670, Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

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@fvwm-@wao guna/VL to@ UNITED Sfrsrns Aralar @risica ALV-IX S. HAINES, OF SLA'IINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,670, dated August 4, 1885. Application filed May 19, 1385. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ALVIN S. Hnrrrns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Slatington, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a mail-bag the mouth of which is fastened by means of a series of staples and a sliding strap provided with a series of tongues which engage the staples.

A fastening of this class has heretofore been made in which the sliding strap is composed of a series of centrally-slotted metallic plates hinged together and provided with tongues extending into the slots ofthe plate. The obzo jections to such a strap are that it is complicated and expensive in construction, and that when one link or plate gives out the entire strap is useless. Hinged metallic pronged links Vhave also been employed as a fastening device in connection with staples; but such a device is expensive, complicated, and cumbersome.

A mail-bag of this class has also been made in which the sliding strap is composed of leather and provided with a series of slots along its length, metallic plates having central tongues being attached to said strap opposite said slots. The objections to this construction are that it is expensive to make, and, further, that the slots in the leather strap greatly weaken it, and breakage thereof at one of the tongued plates destroys its utility.

The object of this invention it to provide a mail-bag with a fastening of this character which is simple and economical in construction and durable in use, and which can be antoinatically and instantaneously closed and locked.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a front elevation of thisimproved inail-bag with the central portion of the body broken out andaportion of the lock-face broken away. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the bag on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the lock on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail of the sliding fasteningstrap complete.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several iigures of the drawings.

A represents the body of a mail bag or pouch, preferably composed of leather,in any suitable size and shape.

B is the flap thereof, which may be an extension of the material composing one side of the body,or another piece suitably secured thereto. This iiap is adapted to fold over the upper edge of the bag and close the mouth thereof in a manner Well understood, and it is secured in closed position by means of the devices hereinafter described.

'Ilhat side of the bag to which the flap is attached,and which I terni the back, carries a number of staples, D, secured thereto by rivets or otherwise. In the opposite side or face is a series of holes, through which these staples extend when the mouth of the bag is closed. The flap B is of two thicknesses, forming a pocket, both thicknesses be ing provided with a series of holes registering with those in the face. The staples D are thus permitted to pass through the face and ilap.

Vtithin -the aforesaid pocket of the flap B, between the two thicknesses composing the same, slides a fastening-strap, C. rIhis strap C is composed of leather or other suitable flexible material, and is provided with a series of recessed bolts, D, which project laterally from the strap. These bolts are stamped out from sheet metal, and consist of an attaching-plate, o, a shank, b, and a tongue, c, projecting laterally from the shank parallel with the strap, the end ofthe tongue being rounded. as shown in Fig. 4. These sheet-metal bolts are riveted to the leather strap by means of rivets, which pass through the attaching-plate thereof and through the strap- The inner edges of the recesses in the bolts forming the tongues thereon are ilush with the lower edge of the leather strap, and the leather rests against the staples and serves as a guide in the sliding of the strap. As thus constructed the strap is integral and solid throughout, ex-

cept the small perforations for the rivets, and

on the strap, so that a comparatively large number of locking staples and bolts can be used in a single bag, thus increasing the security of the pouch. One end of the strap projects through a hole in one end of the pocket of the iiap, and is provided with a ring, E, which serves as a handle for sliding the strap to release the bolts from the staples to unfasten the bag. This strap is provided near its inner end with an angular link, F, fixed thereto. This link is attached edgewise to said strap by means of screws or otherwise, and projects through a slot, d, in the face of the pocket, being provided at its outer end with a number of slots, e.

Attached to the flap B of the bag, at one corner thereof', is a lock, G, within the casing of which are pivoted several hook-shaped tumblers f, separated byintermediate plates, g, which are provided with angular recesses at the inner lower corner of the case. The outer plate of the case and the intermediate plates between the tumblers are provided with registering key-holes t', and the tumblers are provided opposite said key-holes with notches n of the same or different depths; and a key, H, provided with aseries of lugs of the same or diii'erent lengths, is adapted to actuate all oi' said tumblers simultaneously. The link F, attached to the fastening-strap, is beveled at its outer end and adapted to enter a slot in the inner end of the lock-case. rIhe pivoted tumblers ride over said link, and their hooked ends take into the slots c therein. Bandsprings It tend to throw down the hooked ends of the tumblers.

The operation is as follows: Thebag being opened and the fastening-strap drawn out as far as the length of the slot d will permit, the flap B is closed over the top of the front side of the bag, the staples passing through the verticalslots in the flap. Pressure is then applied to the link F, attached to said strap, until the latter is moved toward the left a distance sufficient to cause the end of said link to enter the lock and be grasped by the turnblers therein. During this movement the tongues c of the bolts D, attached to the strap within the pocket of the flap, enter the staples and fasten the bag. When the bag is to be opened, the key is inserted in the lock and turned through half a revolution, whereby the tumblers of the lock are lifted out of contact with the slotted link on the fastening-strap. The strap is then drawn toward the right by pulling upon the ring E. VBy this movement the tongues are withdrawn from the staples and the iiap is free to be opened.

I claim as myinvention- 1. The combination,in a mail-bag, of a series of staples, a pocket-Hap provided with a series of vertical slots for the staples, and with ahorizontal slot in its outer face, a lock attached to said pocket-iiap and projecting through one end thereof, a sliding strap within said pocketiap, a series of angular sheet-metal bolts projecting laterally from said strap for engaging the staples, and an angular link attached to said strap through the horizontal slot of the pocket-Hap, the outer end of said link being adapted to enter the lock, substantially as described.

2. Afastening-strap for mail-bags, consisting of a solid strap ot' leather provided with sheet-metal bolts rigidly secured thereto, said bolts projecting laterally beyond the edge of the strap and having tongues parallel therewith, substantially as described.

3. A fastening-strap for ,mail-bags, consisting of a solid strap ot' leather provided with sheet-metal bolts rigidly secured thereto, said bolts projecting laterally beyond the edge of the strap and having recesses whose inner` edges are even with said edge, the lateral projections being provided with tongues parallel with said strap, substantially as described.

4. In a mailbag `the combination of a pocket-flap provided with a longitudinal slot for the locking-li11k,and with vertical slots for the staples, a sliding strap within said flap provided with a series of locking-bolts, a link attached to said strap through said horizontal slot ofthe pocket-Hap, provided with a series of slots at its outer end, and a lock attached to said iiap, provided with a series of springactuated tumblers for engaging the slots of said link, substantially as described.

ALVIN S. HAINES.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM H. KUNTZ, ELLswoR'rH F. KUNTZ. 

